Liverpool are closing in on a deal to sign Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt as they line up their new centre-forward.

The Reds have been on the lookout for another central striker to add to the squad all summer, after finally deciding to cut their losses on Darwin Nunez.

Ekitike emerged as a strong candidate after Liverpool made an initial approach to sign Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, which was turned down.

However, while Liverpool look set to tie up Ekitike’s arrival next week, it appears that the story is not yet completely over in regards to Isak either.

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The Swede did not travel for Newcastle’s pre-season friendly against Celtic on Saturday, with manager Eddie Howe admitting that the ‘speculation’ over a potential transfer away for Isak had played a part in his thinking.

Newcastle are due to travel on tour to Singapore and South Korea over the coming days, and after speaking openly about Isak’s future, Howe shared whether the 25-year-old is expected to make the trip.

Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

Initially, it had appeared that injury was the main contributing factor to Isak not being with the Newcastle squad for Saturday’s match.

However, when it was pointed out that other injured players such as Joelinton had in fact travelled with the squad anyway, some eyebrows were raised.

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Howe’s post-match comments lifted them even further towards the heavens, with Liverpool supporters likely now pulled back into a transfer saga that had looked potentially over.

READ MORE: Newcastle run into contract ‘problem’ with Alexander Isak as Liverpool backed for renewed push

Reds fans will no doubt be keeping an eye on goings on at Newcastle extra closely in the coming weeks, but according to Howe, if they’re watching Isak, they’ll be seeing him in the Far East.

“Yeah, absolutely.

He’s part of our squad.

At this moment in time, I expect him to come,” said the manager, when asked whether his star striker will travel as normal next week.

Given Howe’s honesty in his answers on Saturday, he was clearly also being as open as possible during this particular statement.

As a result, it should be expected that having perhaps gotten the Liverpool interest out of his system, Isak will report for duty next week.

Nevertheless, there is more than a feeling that the Sweden international has had his head turned by Liverpool.

The Reds would have known Newcastle’s stance on Isak before lodging an approach earlier in the week, the whole world did.

It seems at least possible that they had some encouragement from the player’s side before doing so.

For Newcastle, this is something of a nightmare scenario, and a lot will now depend on Howe’s notoriously good man-management skills.

From Liverpool’s point of view, they will be watching that plane bound for Singapore with great interest.

If Isak is not on it, something could start rumbling here.


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